Musical instruments



Feb. 16, 1960 F. L. O'BRIEN 2,

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 5, 1952 IN VEN TOR.

fimvm 1. 0290544 7 BY 4.

ATTORNEY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Francis L. QBrien, New York, N.Y., assignorat silty percent to Beatrice Evelyn Byrd, New York, NY.

Application July 3, 1952, Serial No. 297,039

1 Claim. (Cl. de -174) This invention relates to a musical instrument ofthe keyboard type.

It is an object of this invention to provide an instrument which willhave all the simplicity in playing of a piano, and which can readily beplayed by any one who can play a piano, but which has beauty of harmonyand tone added that a regular piano cannot produce.

A piano as is well known, has a keyboard with a key for every note ofthe diatonic scale, and having a set of one or more strings for eachnote. In the lower octaves the sets have one string each, in the centraloctaves two strings, and in the upper octaves three strings, but each ofthe sets have the strings in it in perfect unison.

In accordance with this invention it has been found that new beauty ofharmony can be obtained by providing three separate series of strings,so related, that each key will simultaneously strike one string of eachseries. The strings of each series are harmoniously related to eachother, in semitone intervals, but the basic tone of the first series isa definite fractional interval above the basic tone of the secondseries, and the basic tone of the third series is a definite fractionalinterval below the basic tone of the second or middle series. Thus eachseries give a whole gamut in perfect tune, but higher or lower in pitch,then each of the other series.

The accompanying drawings illustrate diagrammatically an instrumentembodying this invention, shown in plane view. In the drawings thenumeral 16 represents the standard keyboard, like that of a piano ororgan. The keys indicated at 11 are connected by a suitable leverage notshown in detail, but indicated at 12 to operate a hammer 13, as in apiano. The customary dampers 17 will be understood. The strings arearranged in three series, giving three strings for each key.

The central string 14 of each set of three is tuned to the standardpitch represented by the key by which it is played. This series ofcentral strings 14, therefore, comprises an entire piano stringboardwhich if no other series of strings were present, could be played as apiano and would sound as such. The strings of this series are shown indotted lines.

In accordance with this invention, however, two other strings 15 and 16are provided for each key, one shown in solid lines and one in dashlines. These are placed on opposite sides of the dotted line string 14,each of the strings 15 is a definite fractional interval below itscorresponding string 14, and each string 16 is the same fractionalinterval above the corresponding string 14. As will be understood,therefore, the series 14, 15 and to each comprise a series of strings inperfect tone with each other but one series differing from the other inthe absolute pitch to which the series is tuned. The difierence in pitchselected makes considerable difierence in the effect produced.

Patented Feb. 16, 1950 I have found that if the lower series be about /3of a semitone below, and the highest series be about /3 of a semitoneabove the middle or standard pitch series, the result is at its optimum.

For example in the instrument. 1 have demonstrated, as tuned for thegreatest harmon the notes are found to have the following ratios ofvibrations with A=220.0 used as standard pitch, for the middle octave.

Key Low Middle High For each rise of an octave, we must of course,multiply by two, and for each drop we divide by two, in the usualmanner.

When any key is struck, three tones are produced, one one-third of asemitone below, and one one-third of a semitone above the central orstandard pitch tone, which is also sounded.

The effect is to produce a richness of tone which a piano cannot give,and yet because each series of strings is in perfect tune within itself,the net eifectiveness is harmonious.

it will be understood that whereas, for convenience or" illustration,all three series of strings are shown as mounted upon the same frame,that three separate frames may be provided, and each series mountedindependently upon its own frame. In fact three complete sets ofstandard piano strings may be provided, even three complete and separatepianos, provided only that they are tuned to the proper differences inpitch, and mechanism is provided that a common key will cause thestriking of its corresponding string in every series.

I claim:

A musical instrument comprising a keyboard having a key for each note ofthe scale, three series of strings, each containing a string for eachnote of the scale, one of said series having its strings tuned atstandard intervals according to the notes which each string representsat standard pitch, another of said series having its strings tuned atidentical intervals to the first series but each string beingsubstantially one-third of a semitone lower than its correspondingstring of the first mentioned series, and the third series having itsstrings tuned at identical intervals to the first series, but eachstring being substantially one-third of a semitone higher than itscorresponding string of the first mentioned series, and mechanismoperated by each key for Striking the related string of each seriessimultaneously.

Reierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS512,048 Muller Jan. 2, 1894 2,159,505 Hammond May 23, 1939 2,287,105Kannenberg June 23, 1942. 2,509,923 Hanert May 30, 1950

